Cover-Credits:
The number of esports tournaments being held has increased significantly in recent times. Several tournament organizers are focusing on hosting tournaments for various titles, such as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Valorant, and Counter Strike (CS). The prize pools for these tournaments are huge and help the players and the organizations.
Recently Lokesh “8Bit Goldy” Jain, Co-Owner, S8UL Esports, took to X (formerly Twitter) and addressed the issue of Tournament Organizers not paying the share of the prize pool even after a couple of months after the conclusion of the event.
8Bit Goldy expresses disappointment over delayed prize pool payments
Addressing the issue of delayed payments of prize pool, 8Bit Goldy shared a post on X and wrote, “Disappointing to see few Tournament Organizers blaming sponsors for delayed prize pools. Teams compete for fair rewards, not excuses. Even after 6-7 months and some more than a year. Transparency and accountability are crucial for the growth of esports. If we don’t receive the prize pools even after so long we will no longer participate in those tournaments organized by such Tournament Organizers. Next time it will be a direct call out by names. I see some of them are too active educating on various platforms. These people should first look in their own backyard and then educate others.”
Sharang “Sharkyy” Naiker, Founder and Managing Director, Reckoning Esports also shared his thoughts on the matter on X and wrote, “Imagine an org puts increments on the basis of how a team performs in tournaments and also allots bonuses towards the same. One of the major revenue sources for esports orgs in India is completely nullified by some Tournament Organizers who just love to talk endlessly about how they are building esports. I really wish people stop giving the [brand is delaying] excuse and stand true to what they commit. I know a few Tournament Organizers who actually share the prize pool even before the committed date, hopefully others follow suit.”
This isn't the first time an issue of delay in prize pool payments has occured. In September 2023, Sushant "Ominous" Jha, Assistant Coach/Analyst of Bleed Esports had shared a post on X addressing the same issue where Bleed Esports had not been paid their share of prize money after they won the Skyesports SEA Championship, even after 10 months.
Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO, Skyesports had replied to this issue and had said that they were facing challenges making international payments as there are many processes involved which is why there was a delay in the payments.
As of now there have not been any names put forth by 8Bit Goldy regarding the situation but he has said that the issue needs to be resolved soon as it has been going on for a while.
